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' t UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

WILLIAM FILMER AND EDWARD BYOOKHOUT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MODE OF BACKING `ELECTROTYPE-PLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 16,141, dated December 2, 1856.

lo alt 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM FILMER and EDWARD BOOKHOUT, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Implement or Device for Backing Electrotype Shells or Plates; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

'exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of our improvement, the plane of section being through the center. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same, the adjustable plate being removed from the hopper.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

Our invention consists in the employment or use of an inclined hopper, adjustable plate, and springs interposed between the electrotype-shell and the adjustable plate, the shell being placed on the bottom of the hopper, the above parts being so arranged that the shells may be backed in an expeditious and perfeet manner and of a uniform thickness.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and use our invention, we will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular frame, the upper end or top of which is inclined, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

B represents a hopper or box, having in-j clined or beveled sides and end pieces, a, and C represents a plate, the width of which is equal to that of the bottoni b of the hopper or box B. The plate C is not quite so long as the bottom b, and has an inclined flange, c, attached to one end, as shown in Fig. 1. Ihe bottom b has a ledge or strip, d, at each side and a ledge, e, at its back or depressed end. The height of these ledges are equal to the desired thickness of the backs of the shells. The hopper'or box B is tted between stocks f, which have notches or recesses in their upper ends to receive crossbars D, through which set-screws g pass. The

use of these screws will be presently shown. The stooksf rest upon the top ot' the trame A, and as the top of the traine is inclined the hopper or box will also be inclined.

E represents an electrotype-shell, which is placed back uppermost on the bottom b ofthe box or hopper B. On the sunken portions of the shell E there are placed horizontally or iiatwise spiral springs h, said springs being placed longitudinally and transverselyT on the shell, as shown in Fig. 2. The plate C and also the box 0r hopper B are constructed of metal.

The operation is as follows: The plate C is placed within the box or hopper B, and is pressed rmly down and secured upon 'the ledges or strips d d and e by the screws g, and the shell E, which the plate C does not come in contact with, is retained in proper po- .sition by the springs 7L, upon which the plate C bears. The melted metal, of which the backs are formed, is then poured into the space between the plate C and bottom b ofthe hopper, the metal, in consequence of the inclined position of the plate C and bottom b, ruiming to the lower or depressed end of the hopper and closing around the sides and over the back ot' the shell. In case the metal escapes upward behind the lower or depressed end of the plate C, it cannot rise higher than the metal at the upper end, and consequently the shell will be backed in a perfect manner. The melted metal is represented by the red tint in Fig. 1. The superfluous metal is sawed or cut offaround the edges of the shell when it is removed from the box or hopper. The springs h not only retain the shell in proper position upon the bottom b of the box or hopper, but they also allow theV shell to expand as the hot metal comes in contact with it. This is important, for it' the shell is not allowed to expand freely at all points it will curl or warp. The springs, it will be understood, are inclosed by the metal. A set of springs therefore is required for each shell.

We are aware that runningor pouring melted metal between two plates to form the backs ot` electrotypeshells, the shells being placed between the two plates, has been previously done; but perfect backs have not been formed thereby. As the metal was not confined, it consequently would leak or run out before cooling at the lower ends of the plates. By placing the plate O within the box or hopper B, as described, this difficulty is avoided, and also, by the use of the springs h, the shell is retained in proper position, and also allowed to expand freely at all points when heated by the melted metal, so that .it will not curl or warp.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure' by Let- 2. The spiral springs h, interposed between ters Paten t, isthe shell E and plate C, as described.

1. The box or hopper B, placed in an inclined WILLIAM FILMER. position, and the plate C, placed Within the box v ED WARD BOOKHOUT. or hopper, the bottom b of the box or hopper Witnesses: being provided With ledges d. d e, and arranged L. PITKIN,

as shown. I. R. PITKIN. 

